Whistle actuating and control means for toy trains



April 9, 1940. J. E. McLouGHLlN WHISTLE ACTUATING AND CONTROL MEANS FORTOY TRAINS Filed Deo. 7, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 @www s sfu Q a,

lllllllL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. E. McLouc-:HLIN

med nec. 7, 193s vmxs'rLn Ac'rA'rmG AND CONTROL MEANS Fon 'rour TRAINSApril 9, 1940.

Patented Apr. 9, i940 4PA'IEIJT OFFICE WHISTLE ACTUAT'ING ANI)y CONTROLMEANS FOR TOY TRAINS f James E. McLoughlin, New Haven, Conn., as-

signer to The A. C. Gilbert Company, New Haven, Conn., a.` corporationof Maryland Application December 7, 1939, Serial No. 244,399

8Cialms.

This invention relates to whistle actuating and control means for toytrains, and more particularly to electric toy train systems in which awhistle carried byfgthe train is actuated by a small electric motor.

One of the vobiects of the invention is toptovide an improved toy trainset having simple and convenient means whereby the whistle actuatingmotor. as well as the propulsion motor lo of the train, may becontrolled from a distance. Another object is to provide improved meanswhereby at any time desired the whistle carried by the train may beblown.

It is also aimed to provide a device of this kind u in which theoperation o! blowing the whistle will not interfere with the driving ofthe train by its electric propulsion mechanism.

In the vaccompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic viewshowing an elec-l tric toy train'systemembodying my improvements;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation ot the electromagnetic switch deviceiorcontrolling the train propulsion:

' Fig. 3 is a top plan view oi' the device shown u in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the switch device mounted on the tender forcontrolling the operation oi' the o whistle; i l

. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of the quickacting switch deviceassociated with the transformer in l'iig.l 1;y

F18. 7 is'a section on line I-'I of Fig.. 6; and Fig.8isaviewsimilartoFig.1showinga modified form.

In devices of this class it has been common to provide the locomotivewith an electric propulsion motor, andwith a remotely controlled oelectromagnetic switch 'device for starting and sinpnins the locomotiveand changing its direction. It has also been common to mount at asuitable point on the train, ior example, on the locomotive tender. apneumatically-operated 5 whistle whose actuator is a small electricmotor connected in the circuit so as to be operable from s. distancei'or blowing the whistle when that is desired. However. such whistlecontrols as have w been provided heretofore have'been complicated andliable to get out of order; and there has been ditiiculty in controllingtrom a single point in a reliable manner the operation oi both thepropulsion motor and the whistle or like warning u signal. The whistleismost commonly used, but

(ci. 10s- 149) in this application I mention a pneumaticallyoperatedwhistle merely by way of example.

In Fig. 1 by way of example I have shown an arrangement in whichwheel-supporting track rails A and B are insulated from each other, and5 where suitable collecting devices at A' and B' carried by thelocomotive C, by contacting the respective rails. provide for the supplyof current to an electric motor D on the locomotive, this being themotor which propels the train. My improvements may, however, be used inconnection with a third rail system.

E is the locomotive tender on which is mounted a pneumatic whistledevice F, whose actuator is a 'small electric motor G. H is aVtransformer of 15 any suitable type, which is illustrated only so laras necessary for the understanding of the present invention, the samebeing connected by leads h and h with the usual light socket, and havingthe usual primary coil (not shown), and having its secondary coil Iconnected to the rails A and B to supply thereto alternating current ofthe desired voltage. AFor the purpose of reversing the propulsion motorD, for example, by reversing the direction oi' current in its arma- 2'5ture, a reversing switch J is provided, shown in detail in Figs. 2, 3and 4. For the purpose of causing actuation of the whistle motor G, acontrolling switch K is provided, certain details of which are shown inFig. 5. At Az and B the tender E is provided with suitable currentcollectors by means of which current is carried to motor G and switch K.For actuating the switch K. a special actuating switch L is employed,and

this may be associated with the transformer H in the manner indicated inFig. 1.

The usual or ordinary transformer control may be provided by a knob IIIhaving a pointer i I movable over contacts i2 associated with a portionof the secondary I, so that in the usual manner control of the voltagesupply to the motor may be eilected. In the case selected yforillustration, the range is from zero to 12 volts, but this is merely byway of example. It will be apparent that the primary will, in theycustomary 5 x manner, induce current in the secondary I, and.

' that by moving the knob Il the voltage can be increased stepwise inthe usual manner up to the point where 12 volts are supplied. Thesecondary coil I, however, is provided with a portion il, not undercontrol of knob i0, and which in eiect forms an extension of thesecondary coil adapted when cut in to bring about a substantial increasein the voltage, and in this particular case it may be assumed by way oiexample that when 56 the entire secondary coil is introduced into thecircuit, volts will be supplied to the rails.

The cutting in of the extra portion or extension I3 may be leffected bymeans of the switch L when the latter is shifted to the dotted lineposition shown in Fig. 1, and when this shift has been made, the switchK, which is inoperative at ordinary voltages, is actuated to close thecircuit of whistle motor G.

A suitable form which the switch L may assume in practice is illustratedin Figs. 6 and 7. It may comprise a lever I4 pivoted intermediate of itsends at I5 on a plate I6 of insulating material on or associated withthe wall of the transformer casing and within the casing. The outer endof the lever operates in a slot I1 in a bracket I8. Lever I4 is actedupon by a coiled spring I9, one end of which is attached to a post 20 onplate II,

, and the other end of which is attached to a post 2I on the lever, thepost 2I operating in an arcuate slot 22. The inner end portion 23 oflever I4 is adapted to contact with end contacts 24 and 25,

respectively, and with an intermediate contact 26, all mounted oninsulating plate I6.

When the switch L is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, thelever I4 forms a connection from rail B and circuit branch 21 to contact24 by way of circuit branch 28 with knob I0 oi the transformer. At theopposite end of its swinging `movement on its pivot the inner end of thelever will be in contact with contact member 25 to connect the leverwith the transformer knob by way of circuit leg 29. It will beunderstood, however, that in moving from one of these extreme positionsto the other, the'lever will by its inner end engage for an instant thecontact 24, which isconnected by circuit leg with the extension I3 ofthe secondary coil, so that momentarily the entire secondary coil willbe introduced into the circuit. 'I'his will be effective in actuatingthe switch K, the coil of which is of such character and so wound as tobe responsive only to this higher voltage, and in this manner thecircuit of whistle motor G will be closed to cause l the blowing oi' thewhistle.

In moving from one of its positions to the other the lever I4 will notinterrupt the connection between thesecondary coil and the track rails.

The switch device J for controlling the operation of the propulsionmotor comprises a coil li havinga ilxed iron core 32, said coil beingsecured by screw 33 to an L-shaped, metal frame I4. A swinging armaturepivoted adjacent one end to frame 34 at 38 is adapted to be pulledtoward the coil as current traverses the latter. normally holds thearmature in the position shown in Fig. 2. At rigl'tangles to the coil arotary drum or commutator 34 is arranged in the frame, and thiscommutator is adapted to be rotated step by step by a ratchet wheel Ilon the shaft 40 of the commutator, being engaged by a pawl 4I pivotallymounted at 42 on the Ldownturned extremity 43o! amature il Thus uponeach inward pull on the armature, the commutator is turned one step. Thecommutator proper is formed with metal rings, said rings being providedwith suitable axial extensions and ,mounted onl a body of insulatingmaterial. Pressing against the commutator are suitable brushes, and inthe particular arrangement illustrated, there are two horizontal brushes44 and 4l, and two vertical brushes. and 41.. v

It wilIbe understood that the commutator is rotated insone direction4only, and that upon successive actuations of theelectromagnetby closingA spring 31 the connection of the feed circuit to the rails through thetransformer knob, or otherwise, the switch J will be moved to cause,respectively, the drive oi the propulsion motor in one direction, thestoppage of the train, and the drive of the train in the oppositedirection by reversal of the motor armature and held connection.

The switch K is in general similar in construction to switch J, butswitch K is a two-position switch only, -having a drum 44 with a metalcontact ring 4l, a portion 5l oi insulating material, and brushes 4I and52. Upon successive actuations of switch K the same is moved,respectively, to a position in which the circuit of the whistle motor isclosed, and a position in which said circuit is open. It is understood,of course, that the rotation of the commutator, as in the case of switchJ, is effected by a pivoted armature carrying a pawl at its free end,which pawl engages a ratchet wheel Il on the commutator shaft 40'. f

It will be understood that in the operation of the device the propulsiono! the train will be controlled by actuation of the transformer knob.

In Fig. 1 the transformer knob is shown in iull lines in the oi'i'position, but by moving it so that its pointer contacts the firstcontact, the cix-,

cuit will be closed, and by proper adjustment of the knob the train canbe run at the desired speed, and by cutting of! the current to thetracks and then reconnecting, the reversal or the stoppage of the traincan be elected, depending upon the position of the step-by-step switch.The switch device L is used only for the operation oi the whistle. Whenit is desired to operate the whistle the pivoted switch member i4is'thrown over by the finger to its other position. In this operationits inner end will wipe across contact 24 and momentarily close thecircuit through the entire secondary coll, thereby causing a surge ofhigh voltage to pass through the coil oi.' switch K, which will closethe whistle motor circuit and start the sounding of the whistle as soonas the whistle motor cornea up to speed. The whistle will continue tosound until the switch lever is flipped in the opposite direction to theinitial position, during which operation switch K will again beactuated, the actuation at this time moving its commutator to a positionto break the whistle motor circuit. In this manner the whistling of thetrain can be ettected at any time desired, even when the train is atrest (as permitted by the construction of switch J), provided the knobIl be ina position in which it closes the circuit.) The control o! thewhistle actuation is also very simple and convenient, and can beincorporated in a toy train outfit at slight expense. All current used,both for control oi the propulsion and whistle motors as well as foractuation thereof, is alternating current, which is ordinarily readilyavailable.

When the switch K is actuated by the high voltage for blowing thewhistle and the train is being driven, the only eiiect upon the switch Jof the surge of high voltage will be the clamping of armature 4l morefirmly against the electromag- Also, when the train is at rest therewill berv net. no effect 'upon the switch J because at any time whenthere is current in the rails the amature I! o! said switch will be helddown. When the transformer knob is in the full-line positionshowninl'ig.1therewillbenocurrentinthe rails,andinthispositionswitchxwill not operate vthe whistle because there willbe no current iiowing inthe aik.

Inll'ig. lhavelhownalmodiediormoimy to introduce the arcano invention inwhich. as before, the switches for closing the motor circuits operate atdierent voltages, but in this case the controlling current is directcurrent. In this instance the switch J' associated with the propulsionmotor is operable by high voltage only, say 6 volts, while the switch Massociated with the whistle motor is operable at a low voltage, say 3volts. The switch M comprises a coil M', which when traversed by the lowvoltage above referred to attracts a pivoted armature 35 in oppositionto spring 51', and establishes a contact between contact member 35x onthe armature and a fixed contact member 35i', thereby closing thecircuit of the whistle motor.

In this form the transformer T, having a primary53 and a secondary 54,comprises a knob 55 connected with a multiple push button switch 55 anda second multiple push button switch 51. The switch 55 comprises leaves58, 58 and 50, and is adapted to be actuated by pushing a button 5I onleaf 50. Switch 51 is similarly constituted,

having leaves 52, 58 and 55, leaf 54 having a push button 55. Adapted tobe placed in the circuit is a direct-current source 55, such as a drycell I battery furnishing 3 volts, and a second directcurrent source 51.such as a dry cell battery furnishing 3 volts, is adapted to be includedadditionally in the y circuit. Suitable connecting means between theleaves 58 and 82, which connecting means may be constituted by link 58,areA provided.

It will be seen from Fig. 8 that when the parts are in the positionsshown in full lines, connection of the propulsion motor to thetransformer will be effected. If it be desired to eect actuation ofswitch J switch 51 is actuated by pressing down on button 55. Thiscauses leaf 55 to engage leaf 52, and disengage leaf 53 (and also causesleaf 58 to be disengaged from leaf 58), with the result that bothdirect-current sources 55 and 51 will be introduced into the circuit,furnishing together 6 volts, without actuating switch M, and in this wayswitch J may be lmoved through the different positions, as previouslydescribed, wlthout any operation of the whistle motor taking place. Thereason for this is that the high-voltage relay operates quickly, and anyactuation of armature of switch M which may take place will not be ofsumcient duration to bring the whistle motor up to a speed that willoperate the whistle. Now when it is desired to operate the whistle, theswitch 55 is actuated, button 5I being depressed so as to move leaf 55into contact with leaf 58, and move leaf 58 out of contact with leaf 55.The effect of this will be low'fyoltage direct-current source 55 aloneinto the circuit, and in this particular instance 3 volts will passthrough switch M, which will be sumcient to actuate said switch andcause the circuit of the whistle motor to be closed. In this case it.will be necessary to' hold button 5I depressed for a time sumcient toget the whistle motor up to speed, and `to sound the whistle for thedesired length of time, lfor when pressure on leaf 50 is released thedirect-current source will be eliminated from the circuit, and therewill be no further operation offrelay M which is operated thereby.

I do not limit myself to direct-current sources constituted by primarybatteries, as in certain,

cases a rectifier may be used in connection with a suitable resistanceso as to provide direct current of 'suillciently diilerent voltages forthe purposes in view. Where I use direct-current means operable at apredetermined voltage for controlling the operation of the propellingmotor, I may use alternating-current. means operable at a higher voltagefor controlling the operation of the accessory.

While I have shown herein twov different embodiments of my invention, itwill be understood that the latter is susceptible of many differentembodiments. and that various modifications and constructional changesmay be made without departure from the principles of my invention or thescope of the claims.

What I claim is:

l. In a motor control circuit for electric trains, in combination with atrack circuit and a train having a propelling motor receiving currentfrom said circuit and provided with a reversing switch, said train alsohaving an accessory receiving current from said circuit and providedwithan actuating switch, means operable by current of `a predeterminedvoltage to operate thevreversing switch, and means operable by a likecurrent of another voltage for operating said actuating switch.

2. In a motor control circuit for electric trains,l

in combination with a track circuit and a train having a propellingmotor receiving A. C. current from said circuit and provided with areversing switch relay, said train also having an accessory receiving A.C. current from said circuit and provided with an actuating switchrelay, said relays adapted to be actuated by A. C. current at differentvoltages, and selective means for supplying current of the respectivevoltages to said relays.

3. In a motor control circuit for electric trains, in combination with atrack circuit and a train 'having a propelling motor receiving A. C.current from said circuit and provided with a reversing switch relay,said train also having an accessory receiving A. C. current from saidcircuit and provided with an actuating switch relay, said relays adaptedtobe actuated by A. C. current at dify' having a propelling motorreceiving A. C. current from said circuit and provided with a reversingswitch relay operable by said A. C. current, said train also having anaccessory motorreceiving A. C. current from said circuity and providedwith an actuating switch relay, said reversing switch relay beingoperable by A. C. current of a certain voltagefand said actuating switchrelay ,being operable by A. C. current at a higher voltage, andselective means for supplying current of the respective voltages to saidrelays.

5. In a motor control circuit for electric trains, in combination with atrack circuit and a train having a propelling motor receiving currentfrom the track circuit and also having a signal-operating' motorreceiving current from the track cir* cuit, a transformer for supplyingregulable voltage to said circuit and thereby controlling the voltage inthe track circuit to a predetermined limit at will, and meansautomatically operable upon such increase for closing the circuit of thesignal motor.

. 8. In a motor control circuit for electric trains. in combination witha track circuit and a train having a propelling motor receiving currentfrom said circuit and provided with a reversing switch relay, said trainalso having a signal-operating motor receiving current from said circuitand provided with an actuating switch relay, said reversing switch relaybeing operable by A. C. current of a predetermined voltage and saidactuin combination with a track circuit, a train havlng a propellingmotor and an accessory motor both supplied with Al C. current from saidtrack circuit, means operable by a direct current within a predeterminedvoltage range for controlling the operation o! the propelling motor, andmeans operated by a direct current at a voltage outside o! said rangefor controlling the operation o! the accessory motor. f

8. In a motor control circuit for toy trains, in combination with atrack circuit, a train hav ing a propelling motor and an accessory motorboth supplied with A. C. current from said track circuit, direct currentmeans operable at a predetermined voltage for controlling the operationof the propelling motor, and direct current means operable at a lowervoltage for controlling the operation o! the accessory motor.

JAMES E. MCLOUGHLIN.

